Sheikh Uthman Taliyawa, the National Vice-chairman of an Islamic sect, Jamamatu Izalatul Bidia wa Ikhamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), has urged Muslims to continue with Ramadan virtues.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe,Taliyawa said it was only by doing so that Muslims and the nation would benefit from the lessons of the holy month.
He decried the attitude of some Muslims whom he said “often relaxed their worship of God and good acts after the month of Ramadan.”
Taliyawa also called on leaders to be honest in the discharge of their duties just as he enjoined the ordinary citizens to respect their leaders.
The cleric said that justice was fundamental for the growth of any society and that both leaders and followers must strive to ensure that it prevailed.
He also called on journalists to always reflect the true feelings of the ordinary people for government to take appropriate action.

Daniel wants Nigerians to emulate Yar’Adua’s virtues

From

NIYI OGUNGBOLA, Abeokuta

The exemplary leadership and good qualities of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, especially in the areas of promotion of peaceful co-existence, socio-economic development, respect for rule of law and eradication of corruption must be emulated by Nigerians irrespective of their political or religious lineages.
This was the advice of Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State in his address to mark the nation’s 47years Independence anniversary held at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta just as he charged political parties to field quality and competent candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in order to raise the standard of governance at the local level.
Governor Daniel expressed delight that Nigerians have a President who has a fatherly disposition that symbolizes an uncommon accommodation of all parties and all Nigerians.
“This is a patriotic out look worthy of emulation by all well-meaninig Nigerians. We hope all interests will borrow a leaf from this Godly disposition and come together to move our State (Ogun) and the nation further forward for the sake of this and the next generations” Otunba Daniel urged.
On the forthcoming council elections, Governor Daniel said that all government is essentially local thus, the coming local government is important because governance at that level touches the lives of the people more directly.
He charged good people of Ogun state, especially various political party leaders to strive to field quality and competent candidates for the betterment of all.
“We recall that at the inception of our state, highly knowledgeable and experienced people, like Nigeria ’s first permanent representative to the United Nations, Chief Simeon Adebo of blessed memory and Chief C.A Degun, the first Head of Service of Ogun State, actually considered going to the local government administration.
“This is the kind of people we should all encourage to take interest in governance at the grassroots” Otunba Daniel stressed.
He said too that, Nigerians should not forget great nationalists who fought for it with every vein in them but who by now, are only around in spirit.
According to Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the best to do now is to immortalize them and shun all retrogressive ideas that will add no value to our well-being and oneness as a people destined for great things by providences.
Meanwhile, the occasion was a huge success with people from all 236 wards in the state and traditional rulers in attendance.
 

Good governance, pillar of my administration — Agagu

From

ODEYEMI SAMUEL, Akure

The Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Agagu has assured the people that his administration has made good governance with transparency as the pillar of his administration in the last four years ,
Speaking at the Akure township stadium venue of this year’s Independence celebration ,Dr. Agagu lamented that poverty has remained a stumbling block in the realization of individual and societal economic progress .
He however assured that efforts have been made to emplace a robust peoples empowerment programme in the areas of agriculture , skill acquisition , entrepreneurial development and micro credits .
He further assured that his administration would continue to do everthing possible to transform the economy of the state from it’s agrarian and civil service nature to the one that will bring more socio – economic development to the state.
Speaking in the same vein, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Prince John Ola Mafo said Nigeria has decided to forge ahead as a nation irrespective of ethnicity or language background.
“Though we speak different languages ,there are better days ahead if only we could understand the language of tolerance ,success ,and all routes of imaginary avenues for development”.